The Forrest City times., 1887-10-15
CHAPTER XLlII,

Oi 4ndb Hdu Cuu1c TDuUu again with it's wealth of lDac and lab urnum, it's sunshine and song of birds. The Duke and Duchess of Meath had been to London for some weeks; the duchess had attended two drawing rooms, the duke had been present at a levee, they had heard the finest operas of the season, they had given and at tended some of the best balls.
 The duchess received many expres sions Of sympathy over the loss of her jewels-but jewel robberies were be- coming more frequent.
 The duke had many interviews with the authorities ot Scotland Yard. Search for the goods was still vigorous ly continued, but no trace of them had as yet been discovered.
 Then in the middle of May, Lord Stair wrote to his daughter saying that he should return at once from abroad, and urging them to spend few weeks al Oakclifie Towers.
 "Io ou will have had enough of London by the end of May" he said ''and Oak clifle is just i'll it's full perfection now"
 Il have had enough of London now." said the duchess, as she leaned over her husbands shoulder Co read the letter: 'sand Fulke, only think how strange it is; have never been at home since my marriage" ."
 ''l thought you had been at home ever since '" said the duke laughingly.
 "I ou know what 1 mean 1 have never been at 0akcitie or Rydesda!e e. Let us go. l should like to see Oak eliffe in spring."
 "f ou shall go with pleasure, Ethel" said the indulgent young husband.
 But you will go with me-" she cried suddenly ; "I should not care to go alone. 1 should not enjoy Oakcliffs even without you"
 So it was settled that they should go. and the last week in May found both duke and duchess at Oakoliffe.
 It wore it's fairest dress-the great hawthorn trees were all in flower. and the lilac perfumed the air. The duchess was like a child again.
 Papa" she said, II feel as if I were just seventeen again, and the happiest girl in the world; and what a happy girl Ethel Stair was.'
 'I hope Ethel Meath is even hap pier ;" he said.
 'I think she is," laughed the young duchess, Il had the kindest and best father in the world then; l have the klndest and the best of husbands in addition. Papa !" she added, suddenly, "how beautiful the Herons' Pool looks. think it is the loveliest spot in Oak cliffe :"
 "So did your mother," he replied, his face suddenly clouding over
 "l know :" cried the young duchess, eagerly. You told me before. It was her favorite haunt. l have never seen 1t look as it does this year. The water lilies are so white and the forget-me- nots so blue. ."
 Lord Stair looked thoughtfully over the terrace and the trees.
 "Your mother loved the spot :" he said-'loved 1t dearly"
 His daughter drew nearer to him. She laid her arms round his neck, and said gently:
 1t is so long since my mother died. Do you remember her well?"
 ''l have never forgotten her." he said. II see her as plainly, vividly now as l have ever done. An, Ethel, she was so beautiful, Her hair was like gold, and her eyes 80 sweet. have seen no woman like her.n
 Was she very happy, papa ?" asked the young duchess, after a pause. II can not tell how it is, but when l think of her seem always to have the idea that she was sad and thoughtful, not happy"
 "She was SO young when we were married, and l was too fond of my books,' he said slowly. "If had my life to live over again I would do very differently"
 The duchess sighed. She sighed all ways when she thought of her mother, and the unhappy ending of her brief life.
 The duke joined them then, and the conversation became general. It turn ed upon the robbery, which had not been mentioned between them yet.
 "I was in Paris" said Lord Stair, 'when read of it, and I was terribly shocked when Tread about it. I wrote to you Ethel, about it ."
 "Yes, l remember, papa"
 ''lt seems 8 strange thing" he said "that the woman should have kept my portrait"
 "She would not know whose portrait it was :" said the duke. "It was not for the sake of the picture but the dia- monds that she secreted the locket."
 "Still it seems strange" he said, that sue thUutu nave kSpI it- 1 must get another for you, Ethel"
 'Not like that. papa :" she said, "I should never like it. I can not tell you how fond I was of that poor Mrs. Grey. l could not tell what attracted me to her. was struck with her the first moment l saw her looking in at the park gates. 1 asked her to come in and gather the bluebells, but she did not hear me. From that very moment my heart was drawn to her."
 Was she such beautiful woman?'' asked Lord Stair.
 'Yes; but it was sorrowful beauty. She looked always like a Mater Dol orosa. have never seen, either before or since, such face as hers. She was so gentle and refined, with the sweet est voice In speaking that l have ever heard!"
 2